Number 8

A notable aspect of some numbers is the repetition of seven and eight. As we had talked briefly, it is always on the number 8 that dedications happen.

The eight day of life, circumcision – the dedication of the child’s life;

the 8 days of Sukkoth – the dedication of the year, of Israel;

the 8 days of Hanukkah – dedication of the temple ( your body as the temple?) –

8 days of preparation for Yom Kippur – dedication of your soul.

8 days of preparation of the altar – dedication of you stomach – your senses.

There is no 8th day if the first 7 do not happen. This is primordial to understand. The lord worked 6 days and rested the 7th. If there is no rest on the 7th, the seven is deemed not to have happened. It makes sense too. When we consider that the seventh, the Shabbat is the most important of all feasts, it makes sense that it must happen. It is the marking point announcing the 8th. It is when we rest, when we reconnect that we recharge. Then we can start a new cycle again. This can go on for ever.

This is what the 8th day symbolizes: on-going life; the 8th letter, Chet for life, it is a barrier to cross. When you cross the barrier of 8 you have life. It is the work that gives you rest, it is rest that gives you life and allows you to restart, be reborn, anew.

Shavuot, fifty days. The 7-weeks end (49), the 1st day of the 8th week is the beginning again, the fiftieth and the first.

The seven year  end, the 8th begins anew.

Jubilee year. The 49, 7 times 7 years end, the next year is the 8th of the 8th, the fiftieth, the Jubilee, the mega rest, the rebirth, when all return to its beginning.

The 8 is eternal life, on-going-ness. I’m sure you can come up with other tens of examples.

NO 8 without 7, no life without rest, no morning without night.